Former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni are the accused in the case. All of them are out on bail right now
-1753942934524_d.png "2008 Malegaon blast case | Not only accused, but victims were also under trial: Victims' lawyer ahead of NIA court's verdict")
Accused Sameer Kulkarni (left). Accused former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur (centre). Accused Ramesh Upadhyay (right). PICS/ PTI
Ahead of the verdict in the 17-year-old Malegaon blast case, advocate Shahid Nadeem, representing the victims, said the trial felt like it was not just of the accused but of the victims too, who were forced to relive their trauma in court.
Nadeem recalled how over 100 injured victims had to travel 300 km from Nashik to Mumbai to testify, braving harsh weather conditions. “They had to show their wounds, damaged eyes, broken hands and recount where they were treated,” he said, reported news agency ANI.
The remark came as all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, appeared in the special NIA court. Nadeem also mentioned that during earlier proceedings under Judge Padalkar, accused No. 10, Swami Sudhakar Chaturvedi, denied that the blast even took place, prompting the court to summon victims to verify their injuries in person.
"I am hopeful that justice will be served. Terror has no religion. The accused of the blast must be punished. This is our only request to the Court," he said.
Former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni are the accused in the case. All of them are out on bail right now.
Ahead of the verdict being pronounced, security has been heightened around the NIA court. Visuals from the Mumbai Special NIA court showed people standing outside, awaiting the verdict.
Meanwhile, the locals of Nashik, awaiting the judgment, expressed confidence and hope in the court pronouncing the verdict in favour of the victims.
The local stated that, "If the verdict is in favour of those who lost lives, then it is good, but if it is under someone's pressure, then it is wrong. If the culprits are freed, then there is no meaning in keeping the people waiting for so long for the verdict. There will be justice if the verdict is pronounced with honesty, but we can't do anything if it is done under pressure," reported news agency ANI.
Judge AK Lahoti had heard the final arguments in the 17-year-old case, which killed six people and injured 101 others. The case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011 from the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). All of the accused are currently out on bail.
Another Malegaon local said that the government should announce compensation to the affected people from the blasts.
"Innocents were killed in the 2008 blasts. We hope that the court's verdict is in favour of the innocents so that justice is served. We want the government to provide compensation to those who were affected," the local told ANI.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the accused have all maintained the innocence of their clients and expressed hope of receiving an acquittal for them.
Reaching the NIA court ahead of the verdict, advocate JP Mishra, representing former MP and accused Sadhvi Pragya, told reporters, "The verdict will come in a little while. Truth will win."
Ranjeet Sangle, lawyer of accused Dhar Dwivedi, said while standing outside the court, "The NIA court will pronounce a verdict in the 2008 Malegaon Blast case soon. We are hopeful that all the accused will be acquitted today," according to ANI.
On September 29 2008, six people were killed and 101 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City's Bhikku Chowk. Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against 7, including former MP Sadhvi Pragya.
The NIA court had reserved its judgment on April 19, with the verdict to be announced on July 31.
(With ANI inputs)
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